HISTORY

• Early Elections (1952-1957):
  • In the first two general elections of 1952 and 1957, a separate box was allocated for each candidate along with their election symbol.
  • Voters dropped a blank ballot paper into the box of the candidate they wished to vote for.
• Introduction of Ballot Papers:
  • Starting from the third election, which followed the initial two, the ballot paper included the names of candidates along with their symbols.
  • Voters marked their choice by putting a stamp on the candidate of their preference.
• Trial of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs):
  • The trial phase of EVMs began in 1982 in the Assembly constituency of Paravur in Kerala.
  • EVMs were gradually deployed in various elections, with a significant deployment during the Assembly elections of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry, and West Bengal in 2001.
• Supreme Court Validation:
  • The Supreme Court has consistently upheld the validity of using EVMs in elections through various judgments.
  • In the landmark case of Subramanian Swamy versus Election Commission of India (2013), the Supreme Court emphasized the necessity of a paper trail for ensuring free and fair elections.
• Nationwide Adoption:
  • By the 2004 general elections to the Lok Sabha, EVMs were used across all 543 constituencies, marking a nationwide adoption of electronic voting technology.
  • The 2019 elections saw EVMs equipped with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) in all constituencies, providing a paper trail for every vote cast.

INTERNATIONAL PRACTICES

• Continuation of Paper Ballots:
  • Many Western democracies, including England, France, The Netherlands, and the United States, still rely on traditional paper ballots for their elections.
  • These countries have chosen to discontinue the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for national or federal elections, especially after conducting trials over the past two decades.
• Supreme Court Intervention:
  • In Germany, the Supreme Court declared the use of EVMs in elections as unconstitutional in 2009, leading to a shift back to paper-based voting methods.
• Adoption of EVMs:
  • On the other hand, countries like Brazil have embraced EVMs and incorporate them into their electoral processes.
  • Brazil’s use of EVMs contrasts with the practices in some Western nations where EVMs have been phased out.
• Neighboring Countries:
  • Pakistan does not utilize EVMs in its elections, following a different approach compared to India’s adoption of electronic voting technology.
  • Bangladesh experimented with EVMs in a few constituencies in 2018 but reverted to paper ballots for the general elections in 2024, indicating a dynamic approach to electoral technology.

FEATURES AND BENEFITS OF EVMS

• Booth Capturing Prevention:
  • EVMs have significantly reduced the risk of booth capturing by limiting the rate of vote casting to four votes per minute. This limitation makes it challenging to stuff false votes quickly, thus enhancing the security of the voting process.
• Elimination of Invalid Votes:
  • EVMs have eliminated the issue of invalid votes, which was a common problem with paper ballots. This has streamlined the counting process and reduced disputes during result tabulation.
• Eco-Friendly Approach:
  • With a large electorate close to one billion, the use of EVMs is considered eco-friendly as it reduces the consumption of paper compared to traditional paper-based ballots.
• Administrative Convenience:
  • EVMs provide administrative convenience for polling officers on election day. They have made the voting and counting processes faster, more efficient, and less prone to errors, contributing to smoother election operations.
• Integrity Mechanisms:
  • To uphold the integrity of the voting process, EVMs are equipped with various mechanisms:
    • Random allocation of EVMs to booths before polls ensures fairness and prevents manipulation.
    • Conducting mock polls allows for the verification of EVM and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) functionality before the actual voting begins.
    • Sharing the serial number of EVMs along with the total votes polled with agents of candidates helps verify the accuracy of the voting data during the counting process.

CONCERNS

• Allegations of susceptibility to hacking have been a recurring issue raised by political parties and civil society activists. However, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has clarified that EVMs are standalone devices without connectivity to external networks, reducing the risk of external hacking.
• The sample size for matching EVM counts with VVPAT slips (currently five per assembly constituency/segment) has been criticized for lacking scientific criteria and potentially failing to detect defective EVMs during counting.
• The existing process also allows for booth-wise polling behavior to be identified, which some argue can lead to profiling and intimidation.

WAY FORWARD

• Scientific Sample Size for Matching:
  • Instead of a fixed sample size, a scientific approach should be used to determine the sample for matching EVM counts with VVPAT slips. This could involve dividing each state into large regions based on statistical criteria suggested by experts.
• Error Handling:
  • In case of even a single error detected during the sample matching process, all VVPAT slips for the concerned region should be counted fully. This ensures that any discrepancies are addressed promptly and transparently.
• Statistical Confidence:
  • Implementing the above approach would instill statistically significant confidence in the counting process, as errors or anomalies would trigger a thorough verification of the entire region’s VVPAT slips.
• Totaliser Machines:
  • Introducing ‘totaliser’ machines at the booth level can provide a degree of cover for voters. These machines would aggregate votes from 15-20 EVMs before revealing the candidate-wise count. This aggregation can help prevent booth-wise profiling and intimidation.
• Transparency and Comprehensibility:
  • The overall aim should be to ensure that every citizen can comprehend and verify the steps in the election process without requiring specialized technical knowledge. Transparency in how votes are recorded, counted, and verified is crucial for maintaining trust in the electoral system.